Courtesy of the State Historical Society of Iowa

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"NEW RECRUIT GUIDE"

Uniform & Equipment Guidelines

For

Hardee’s Guard Battalion

Introduction

The purpose of these guidelines is to provide a reasonable starting point for the beginning re-enactor to begin his journey and the veteran re-enactor to enhance his impression in order to be as authentic as possible. To that end, the Basic Guidelines are just that, “guidelines”. These are very straight forward, and should allow all members of the battalion to participate in virtually any event we so choose.

The Hardee’s Guard Battalion considers itself to be a progressive re-enacting organization that diligently does the research needed to improve our impressions, both corporately and individually. To that end, it is the hope of the Authenticity Committee that all members of the battalion will incorporate these guidelines toward the ongoing endeavor of improving our impressions, so that we can honor our ancestors and all Confederate soldiers in such a nature befitting of their bravery.

These guidelines are presented thusly in order that we, as a battalion, have a well versed understanding of the common soldier of the Army of Tennessee and that our standards have substance, meaning, and achievement.

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I. BASIC MINIMUM CONFEDERATE IMPRESSION

The Confederate impression of the Hardee’s Guard Battalion should present the appearance of an early, mid-war and late war regiment in the Army of Tennessee, C.S.A.

Confederate Impression

1. Headgear

• Civilian slouch hat of wool or fur felt with hat band and sweat band. The most common hat worn by the AOT soldiers were civilian slouch hats. We recommend wool or fur felt hats in black or dark brown (this enables you do portray both Confederate and Western Federal). These hats should have the proper sweatband, lining ribbon and stitching. Forage caps and Kepi’s were far less common, but a quality made Kepi of jeans wool is acceptable. Kepi’s should have a tarred canvas or leather bill with leather sweatband. Recommended places to obtain quality headgear would be Dirty Billy, Clearwater Hat Company, Tim Allen and Tim Binder. Optional headgear such as period correct straw hats should be limited. Hardee Hats with little or no trim. Mexican War military Hats and civilian types such as mechanics, etc (early war period).

2. Jackets

• Depot style shell jacket of jean wool material with hand stitched button holes. Grey wool or “mix Grey” wool was not commonly used for construction of military jackets in the AOT. Most uniforms were made of jeans cloth and therefore the proper reproduction should be made of jeans as well. Satinette and Cashmere are two acceptable variants.

• Proper shell jackets would be:

- Columbus depot types I and II (early war examples which did not have the blue collars and cuffs are” preferred” as it will cover early, mid and late war periods)

- Atlanta Depot-great mid war jacket.

- Department of Alabama

- Plain “Commutation” jacket

- Western “mystery” jacket.

• Jean wool enlisted man's frock coat with hand stitched button holes. Frock Coats- Jeans wool material, Osnaburg lining, knee length. Normally these jackets had seven buttons. Common buttons were federal eagle. However, there are some surviving jackets with Block or script I buttons. (Obliviously there are a number of styles regarding Frock Coats for officers. Same principles apply)

• Military or Civilian style Sack Coats with hand stitched button holes. Sack coats – Jeans wool or period civilian cloth materials are very period correct and would have commonly been found in all theatres of war. Civilian or military buttons

3. Trousers

• Military issue jean wool trousers. Gray, brown, butternut (other colors may be correct as well……consult your depot issues for alternate colors)

• Civilian trousers, wool, jeans wool, cotton and linen. Documented original patterns. Period colors may vary

4. Suspenders

• Civilian period models with brass or tin buckles.

• Canvas/ticking with hand sewn button holes only.

5. Shirts

• Civilian shirts of a proper period pattern, woven material. Pull over type shirt, preferably of homespun cotton. All patterns should be woven not printed with hand sewn button holes. All visible stitching should be at a minimum, top stitched. Buttons should be made of calico, milk glass, antique metal or shell (Mother of Pearl). NO PLASTIC

6. Socks

• Wool or cotton in natural or basic color, period style. Civilian hand knitted style. Colors in gray, white, brown(Alternate colors do exist but should be based upon original surviving examples)

7. Shoes.

• Jefferson Bootie/Brogan pattern. Black with pegged, stitched or pegged and stitched soles

• English or other import shoes or short-boots.

• Documented civilian shoes.

8. Drawers

• Should be of an identified civilian or issue pattern. Buttons of bone or wood would be common. Hand sewn button holes. Cotton, linen, osnaburg, cotton flannel or wool flannel are acceptable materials

9. Eyeglasses

• Should be of period correct style or type. Gentlemen….eye wear is expensive, we are all well aware of this. However, when fine-tuning our impressions we should also endeavor to be correct regarding the facet as well. Might I suggest when shopping at an antique store to see about finding some period frames and then when your next eye doctor visit comes up and you need to change your prescription, see about getting a pair cut to fit your new found frames.

10. Adornments

• Adornments. Any adornments such as animal parts, skins/pelts, hat brass, feathers of an unnatural nature, etc, etc, is discouraged. Please study and research period photographs for application.

Weapons

Accoutrements

II. BASIC MINIMUM FEDERAL IMPRESSION

The Confederate impression of the 23RD Kentucky, Hazen’s Brigade/ Hardee’s Guard Battalion should present the appearance of an early, mid-war and late war regiment in the Army of the Cumberland, U.S.

Federal Impression

1. Headgear

• Civilian Slouch Hat- black or dark brown preferred. Leather head band, edge of brim bound with silk

• Black Hardee Hat, wool felt, hand stitched sweatband, label in crown , double stitched on brim

• Kepi – Federal blue, leather bill with sweatband. Clearwater Hat Co. and Dirty Billy is recommended for any of the Headgear

2. Jackets

• Frock coat with lined and padded in the chest, lined in the sleeves (Button front with pockets in the tails. Hand sewn button holes.

• Sack coat – 4 button front, hand sewn button holes

• Fatigue Blouse – Wool/Flannel

3. Trousers

• All trousers to be sky blue wool (Officers – Dark/Navy blue is acceptable)

4. Suspenders

• Civilian period models with brass or tin buckles.(No Nickel Plate)

• Canvas/ticking with hand sewn button holes only.

5. Shirts

• Contract shirts - Blue Gray or tan cotton. Machine stitched with hand sewn button holes

• Civilian shirt - Hand sewn 100% wool or 100% cotton woven checks or muslin with hand sewn button holes.

6. Socks

• Wool or cotton in natural or basic color, period style. Civilian hand knitted style. Colors in gray, white, brown(Alternate colors do exist but should be based upon original surviving examples)

7. Shoes.

• Jefferson Bootie/Brogan pattern. Black with pegged, stitched or pegged and stitched soles

• Documented civilian shoes.

8. Drawers

• Should be of an identified civilian or issue pattern. Buttons of bone or wood would be common. Hand sewn button holes. Cotton, linen, osnaburg, cotton flannel or wool flannel are acceptable materials

• Military issue with hand sewn button holes

9. Eyeglasses

• Should be of period correct style or type. Gentlemen….eye wear is expensive, we are all well aware of this. However, when fine-tuning our impressions we should also endeavor to be correct regarding the facet as well. Might I suggest when shopping at an antique store to see about finding some period frames and then when your next eye doctor visit comes up and you need to change your prescription, see about getting a pair cut to fit your new found frames.

10. Adornments

• Adornments. Any adornments such as animal parts, skins/pelts, hat brass, feathers of an unnatural nature, etc, etc, is discouraged. Please study and research period photographs for application.

Weapons

Accoutrements

III. General Guidelines

Appearance and Attire

In addition to having the appropriate equipment and material, we should endeavor to incorporate them properly and correctly.

• Pants and waist belts were worn at the real waist (i.e. the naval) and not at the hips

• Haversacks, canteens and cartridge boxes should be adjusted so that those items do not slap the soldier on the back of the legs or buttocks on the march

• Pants were rarely tucked in the socks

• Handkerchiefs (bandannas/railroad scarves are NOT ACCEPTABLE; they should particularly not be worn as attire or adornment)

• Hat Brass should be devoid from all impressions and would only be acceptable, and very little even at that, at an early war event

• Pistols are limited to officers only

• Cigarettes should not be smoked in view of spectators

• “Run-of-the mill” gray uniforms should be avoid at all costs

• All hats should be of good form and should not droop at the brim (Just look at photos)

• Period type pocket watches should be used, NO wristwatches

• Federal Sky-Blue trousers should be limited, very limited at that

• Shotguns, squirrel guns, carbines, and other 2-band rifles are prohibited

• Cavalry boots should be worn by the cavalry, short boots are acceptable

• No jewelry……such as ear-bobs, Indian beads, bracelets of any kind, etc, etc

• No Tomahawks, animal skins/pelts, ridiculous feathers, animal tails of any kind, etc, etc, (Just look at the pictures, boys!)

• NO GAITERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Camp Equipage:

Should be reflective of the 19th Century! Either antique or period correct reproductions! These items should however be very limited if re-enacting a campaign event! Garrison events would allow more equipages.

Personal effects: (Events or Living Histories)

Not every soldier has to have every possible personal effect. However, having at least a few of these little items helps complete and enrich the impression. In choosing personal effects, remember that you will have to carry them. Some examples:

• combs

• toothbrush

• pocketknife

• housewife

• handkerchief (period correct)

• vests, civilian or military pattern

• wallet

• writing paper, pen and ink

• pencil

• mirror

• playing cards

• various game pieces books or newspapers